The rarest and most valuable vintage books you could have on your shelf worth up to £140k including The Hobbit
HAVE you got any classic books from your childhood that are collecting dust in your attic? Then you could be sitting on thousands of pounds.
A new study has revealed that some vintage first-edition books are worth as much as £140,000.
First-edition books, particularly those that have become classics, can increase dramatically in value over the years.
A book is considered first edition if it is the version printed and shared with the public in its initial release.
Although they are usually rare finds, you never know what you might have among your belongings.
The study by Homeprotect found the most valuable first-edition book is Jane Austen‘s Pride and Prejudice.
Some of its copies have been listed online for as much as £139,356.
Other valuable first editions include Robinson Crusoe, The Hobbit and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
David Joyson, chief customer officer at Homeprotect, said: “First-edition books are a highly collectable and often overlooked and underestimated item of value, so before you give away or donate your old children’s books, do your research to ensure you aren’t throwing away a small fortune.”
These are the books to watch out for…
Pride and Prejudice
As we’ve mentioned, the most valuable book in your collection could be Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
The young adult classic was originally published in 1813, when early editions sold for 18 shillings – the equivalent of about £52 in today’s money.
Pride and Prejudice is Austen’s most popular book, having sold 20 million copies globally since it was first published.
Robinson Crusoe
The next most valuable is Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, which is selling for as much as £39,221.
It was first published in 1719 and cost an estimated five shillings.
The classic adventure novel is considered an important book in literary history due to its realist writing style that later inspired the likes of Charles Dickens.
The Hobbit
JRR Tolkien fans might want to check their copy of The Hobbit, as a first edition is fetching an average of £27,175.
The children‘s novel was recognised as the Book of the 20th Century and still remains popular among fantasy fans.
First editions of this book are very rare as just 1,500 copies were released during its initial publication in 1937.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll’s fantastical tale can fetch you an average of £20,381 if you manage to find a first edition.
It was originally published in 1865 and has sold 100 million copies since then.
At the time it was first released, it was worth four shillings – or about £16.54 in today’s money.
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens’s Christmas tale sold out just five days after it was published in 1843.
Although selling for five shillings at the time (just over £19 in today’s money), a first edition could now be worth £18,735.
The Velveteen Rabbit
This touching children’s book tells the tale of a toy rabbit’s desire to become “real”.
It was first published in Harper’s Bazaar in 1921 and later appeared as a book in 1922.
First editions of this Margery Williams book can sell for as much as £16,953.
Swallows and Amazons
Arthur Ransome’s adventure novel could earn you £15,133.
Inspired by a summer the author spent teaching children to sail, Swallows and Amazons was first published in 1930 and became an instant classic.
The Diary of a Young Girl
Perhaps the most well-known and heartbreaking autobiography of all time, The Diary of a Young Girl was pieced together from the writings of Anne Frank.
The teenager was forced into hiding with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and later died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Her diaries were retrieved after her death and published by her father Otto Frank, with the English version first released in 1952.
Copies of this first edition are selling for up to £13,353.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
If you’re lucky enough to have a first-edition copy, you could earn £12,383.
The science fiction adventure novel was written by French author Jules Verne and was released to critical acclaim in 1870.
However, you might be more familiar with Verne’s other works – Around the World in Eighty Days, and Journey to the Centre of the Earth – as they have become popular films.
Grimms’ Fairy Tales
Remember Rapunzel, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin and Hansel and Gretel?
They’re among the stories gathered together and written down by brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1812.
A first-edition copy of this book could get you £10,008.
What you need to know if you think you have a first-edition book
Okay, so you think you might have one of these books in your home – what now?
David Joyson says a good place to start is to check whether the book is actually first edition.
He says you can check the book’s copyright page, usually found on the back of its title page.
“If this date matches the original publishing date, then you have likely found your first edition. Google the original publishing date for certainty,” he says.
Some books might explicitly be labelled as “first edition”.
“Many collectors might deem the hardcover version to be the true, and most valuable first-edition version with paperback fetching less in an auction,” David says.
He adds perhaps the most reliable way to check is the book’s number line.
This is a sequence of numbers and will include digits one up to 10 in a first edition, two to 10 in a second edition and so on.
If you see a one, you have a first edition.
You’re in even more luck if your first-edition copy is also signed by the author.
Another thing that can increase the value is if you know the history of who owned the book, for example if a notable person first owned the copy.
While first-edition books are the “ultimate prize for collectors”, illustrated and special-edition copies can also be highly valuable.
David says to look for unique features such as original artwork, forewords by the author, or high-quality bindings.
What kind of condition should it be in?
The condition of the book is really important to avid collectors.
“Finding a first edition book in mint condition is like winning the lottery, made even better if it has the original dust jacket,” says David.
“This means no defects, missing pages, or markings, with crisp pages and a sturdy binding.”
Don’t fret, though, if your book isn’t in perfect condition.
If it has minor wear but no tears it will still be valuable.
However, if it has missing pages, stains or very loose binding, it’s likely to be less desirable or even have no value.
Where can you sell your rare books?
Online marketplaces and rare book platforms are likely your first port of call.
However you shouldn’t overlook rare bookshops on the high street, as you could approach them instead.
“Make sure you’ve done your research before relying on a third-party valuation and come prepared to name your price with evidence to support it,” says David.
“Online marketplaces can also attract scammers, so stay vigilant and use reputable platforms where payments are securely managed through the site.”